A.J. Brown is expected to be available for the Patriots’ Thursday night trip to Chicago.
After New England’s 26-19 win over the Jets in Week 6, Brown said he’s ready to go for the Week 7 matchup against the Bears. Mark Daniels of MassLive reported the update, writing, “AJ Brown said he's ‘absolutely' good to go for Thursday night in Chicago.”
Brown had been out for four games because of an ankle injury before returning against New York, a game that also marked TreVeyon Henderson’s return. The wide receiver’s comeback came with some frustration attached, though, after he wasn’t at his best in the win and later acknowledged his below-par outing.
His availability matters because of what he does for the Patriots’ offense. Drake Maye put it in clear terms with an NBA-style comparison, pointing out how Brown forces defenses to tilt toward him and creates more room for the ground game. That was on display against the Jets, when New England got the run game rolling with contributions from three running backs plus Maye.
The Thursday night game sets up an intriguing Week 7 meeting between two 4-2 teams: Mike Vrabel’s Patriots and Ben Johnson’s Bears. Both sides have dealt with injuries to major names, including Brown and Caleb Williams.
Chicago also comes in off an eye-opening offensive performance from the Jets, who got production from Geno Smith, Braelon Allen and Omar Cooper Jr. On paper, the matchup has shootout potential, but Maye’s comments served as a reminder that the game is never quite that simple.
For the Patriots, though, Brown being back at full strength feels like the big development. The Maye-to-Brown connection has real upside, and now the two have a short week to get on the same page before Thursday night in Chicago.
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